Announcements for 21 September: 15th Sunday after Pentecost (Pr20-L25)

Sunday School 9am, ages 3 through adult

Divine Worship 10:15am

The News

Adult Sunday Morning Bible Study: Confessional Lutherans in the Wider Body

We are resuming our pilgrimage through the various Christian traditions. Learn about our Lutheran distinctives and how to share them in a helpful way while also discovering the gifts of other traditions and rejoicing in our commonalities. Click here for a video that will catch you up on what we covered last year. Then join us Sundays at 9am to explore the other Protestant traditions this fall (e.g., Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal)!

Support the St. Joseph County CROP Hunger Walk coming up THIS SUNDAY, Sept. 21!

Join us in our efforts to support this year’s St. Joseph County CROP Hunger Walk and help us fight hunger in our community and across the globe.

What is the CROP Hunger Walk?
CROP Hunger Walks are community fundraising events sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), a faith-based organization addressing hunger and food insecurity, lack of clean water, and other issues defining poverty in our community and across the globe. 25% of the funds we raise will go to local organizations in St. Joseph County, including The Christian Community Pantry, Broadway Christian Parish UMC Food Ministries, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and United Religious Community Advocacy Center.

How can I get involved?

• Walk with us on Sunday, September 21, at 2:00 pm at Zion United Church of Christ in South Bend (near Howard Park). We will meet there at 1:30 pm. There are two walks – a short 1-mile walk or a long 4-mile walk. 
  
• Donate on behalf of our walkers and SPLC. Our goal is to raise $700. Let’s make it happen!
  • Online: To donate online, click here or go to our SPLC fundraising page and click on the orange ‘Donate Now’ button in the upper right.
• • Offline: Grab one of the donation folders by the slat wall and return it to Halrun Luppes by September 21.
  • ATTN SPY! If you are associated with SPY, please reference “St. Peter Youth” in the ‘Message’ field online or on your check as CWS will make a matching gift of $125 if our youth group raises at least $250.
• Pray for the CROP Walk and for our participation in it.

To learn more about CWS and CROP Hunger Walks visit CROP Hunger Walks. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Halrun Luppes at luppes@sbcglobal.net or 574-292-2792 (mobile)

Thank you for your support!

Rally Day Survey: Is God Calling YOU to These New Opportunities to GO DEEP?

On Rally Day, Pastor Clark introduced several initiatives under the Gospel’s call to “GO DEEP” in our discipleship to Christ.

Click here to express your interest in one or more of the following:

• Deep Discipleship means going deep into the Word of God. We will do 4-week small groups in Advent, much like Lent last year. But are you moved to dive in NOW? Consider:
  • Friday Night Bible Study – Book of Acts videos; talk to John Schroeder or Mike Fonck
  • Thursday Morning Bible Study – The Creed; then Isaiah; talk to Paula Ryan or Emily Ruch
  • A new 4-6 week Small Group at some other day and time is looking to form – tell PC you are interested using the link above!
• Deep Discipleship also means going deep into relationship with each other.
  • We are all called to be missionaries (who share the word) and “doctors of the soul” (who heal by noticing others, listening to them, and offering positive words of care). You do this already by singing hymns and speaking the liturgy! But look also for chances to grow your St. Peter relationships and show kindness to all.
• Deep Discipleship means supporting and mentoring our youth. Studies show that kids with 5+ adult connections besides their parents are far more likely to stay in church. Pastor called for 40-50 adults who might help in one of the following ways (easy training provided). Please join – we need more partners for our youth!
  • Serve as a PRAYER PARTNER for one of our kids or youth
  • Spend 5-MINUTES AFTER WORSHIP a couple of Sundays in Advent or Lent with a small group of kids or youth just chatting about a couple highlights for you and for them in worship that day.
• In ALL of these, INREACH is OUTREACH – AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
  • By sharing your faith and praying for youth and building relationships at St. Peter, you grow your own faith and learn how to build relationships and share faith more widely. We will build on all this as the year proceeds!

Braille – Volunteer Opportunity

Our Braille ministry needs more people! If you are free from 9-11am or 2:30-4:30pm on Tuesdays, please come on out to the church and join in. We can train you on what you’ll be doing to put together copies of books of the Bible in various languages for those who read Braille. See Sharon Csaszar or Sandy Ellis if you’re interested! We have a lot of fun together.

Women of St. Peter – Wine and Word

Join us for Wine and the Word at 2pm on Sunday, September 28, at the Homann residence. We’ll explore women in the Bible who struggled to feel seen and heard, and learn how God saw them and called them to participate in His story. And, we’ll study – and taste – some “overlooked” wines. 

Jackie Homann will host and teach us about wine, and Deaconess Amy Smessaert will lead our time in God’s Word. The event will last about two hours. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available. 

We look forward to this time of learning, sharing and being together. Please come! RSVP by Tuesday, September 23, on the sign-up sheet at church, or email Amy or Jackie. We hope to see you there!

Platz Meal Train

Sylvia has created a meal train for her grandparents, Dave and Helga Platz, who were in a terrible car accident. St. Peter members are invited to help by selecting a date, dropping off a meal, having a meal sent through a delivery service, or sending a gift card the Platzes’ way.

Gerry LaCluyse — 100 Years Old!!!!

Our sweet Gerry will celebrate her 100th birthday this month and the congregation is invited to a gathering hosted by her daughter, Susan.

Saturday, September 27, 1-3pm at St. Paul’s (3602 S. Ironwood Dr.)

There will be signs inside the community center directing folks where to go, or you can ask at the front desk. Coffee, punch, cake, and granola bars will be served. The family requests that no gifts be brought, please — Gerry just wants to see people. We will have a card from the congregation that you can sign, under the slat wall, for the next few weeks. Any questions, see Renee.

Camerata Singers Anniversary Concert

Fifty years ago, Dave and Chris Seitz launched an elite, auditioned choral ensemble in Mishawaka called the Camerata Singers. Under new leadership, the group celebrates its 50-year legacy and impact on the Michiana arts community with a special concert Friday, October 17, 7:30pm, at the Sauder Concert Hall at Goshen College. Dave will conduct and Chris will play! Tickets are $15 and more info is available here. You will not want to miss this event!

Seminary Adopt-a-Student

For several years, the Women of St. Peter have sponsored a seminarian at St. Louis. Last year, we added an element of writing letters to our adopted seminarian. All who participated found it extremely rewarding, a way to BIOMEN SYNDESMOI (live connected) and build an actual relationship beyond just giving financial support. It meant a lot to our student, also!

If you like writing letters, please consider joining us as we “adopt” a new student this year. The time commitment is quite minimal, but receiving his responses back brings such joy! Speak with Renee if you’re interested in this servant-ministry.

Thank You – and Thanks be to God!

• For all who continue to exercise ministries to our faithful gathered around the Long Arms of the Cross.

Resurrection Lutheran Academy (RLA)
News, Info, and Ministry Opportunities

Port-a-Pit Fundraiser for Middle School Washington, D.C. Trip

The 7th and 8th grade students at Resurrection Lutheran Academy are hosting a Nelson’s Port-a-Pit fundraiser toward their class trip to Washington, D.C., this year. Join us Saturday, September 27 from 10am – 2pm at the Marathon gas station in Mishawaka at the corner of Grape and Edison. They will be selling chicken ($10) and potatoes ($5). If you would like to pre-order tickets, ask a 7th/8th grade RLA student (Nora Ruch) or David Luster-Bartz.

Expansion Approved but Capital Campaign Just Beginning: Watch 3min for Details

Bible Studies & Ministry Updates and Opportunities

Sunday Servants Gather Before Worship

All who help lead the Divine Service gather promptly at 10:05am to take 3 minutes to prepare their hearts and minds for worship. If you are serving as altar guild, usher, crucifer/acolyte, lector, greeter, tech person, elder, musician/dancer, doorkeeper or other HEART member, etc. on a particular Sunday, please come together for quick introductions and short prayer led by Deaconess Amy Smessaert. Together, we will ask God to bless our service to God’s people as we live connected in spiritual formation in Christ.

Mid-Week Bible Studies

THURSDAY MORNING, 9am at church:
September 18 begins a new study on the book of Isaiah.
Connect with Paula Ryan or call Renee in the office (574-255-5585) if you are interested in joining.

FRIDAY NIGHT: 1st and 3rd Fridays 6:30pm: Connect with John Schroeder or Mike Fonck if you’re interested in joining. This year, we are studying the book of Acts, featuring a companion video series that we’ll watch together.

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Pick Your Next Usher Date!

Thanks to everyone who has served as an usher or part of an usher team. It’s time to pick another date to serve! Please sign up on the Sunday Servants sheet on the slat wall. You can see the specific list of duties, with video demos, here. A veteran usher will assist you and teach you one extra duty beyond communion each time you serve.

“The Numbers” — Week of 14 September 2025

Offerings
General Fund: $xxx

Worship Attendance
Sunday 9/14: 105

M.A.C. Food Pantry
• 355 pounds this week
• most needed right now: rice, BAR SOAP, peanut butter
Contact Cindy Matthews (574) 855-3504 for more information.

Braille Bible Team
• xxx copies of Exodus in Spanish were completed
Contact Sharon Csaszar (574) 904-1411 or Sandy Ellis (574) 220-3636 for more information.

Sewing Quilt Team
• xxx quilts made this week
Through the program year, the sewing group meets Tuesdays to cut squares, iron and size sheets, assemble backs and fronts, and pin and sew quilts. Participants of ANY skill level from the least to the greatest are welcome. If you are interested in this human care ministry, contact Helga Platz (574) 514-3751 for more information.

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Announcements may be submitted by:

• Using the online form: https://splcm.org/forms/submit-announcement/
• Filling out an announcement form from the left of the slat wall in the Narthex and placing it on the pastor’s chair to the right of the Cross at the front of the sanctuary.